EVERETT, Wash. (AP) — Lawyers for the Monroe prison inmate charged with murder in the slaying of Corrections Officer Jayme Biendl asked for another judge Thursday to hear the trial that could result in a death penalty for Byron Scherf.
Scherf lawyers accuse Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Thomas Wynne of an appearance of bias in favor of the prosecution.
Deputy prosecutors accused the defense of “judge shopping” and attempting to intimidate Wynne.
KOMO Radio reports the judge said he’d consider the motion and rule in 10 days.
The 53-year-old Sherf was already serving a life sentence for sex crimes when Biendl was strangled last January in the prison chapel.
